Glad to Escape.
There was an ijjjnorant man who once applied to President Lincoln for the poet of doorkeeper to the House. This man had no right to ask Lincoln for anything. It was necessary to repulse him. But Lincoln repulsed him gently and whimsically, without hurting his feelings, in this way : "So you want to be doorkeeper to the House, eh?" "Yes, Mr President." "Well, have you ever been a doorkeeper? Have you ever had 1 any experience of doorkoeping?" '"WVII, no — n<* actual experience, sir." "Any theoretical experience? Any instructions in the duties and ethics of doorkeeping?" . "Um — no." , "Have you over attended lectures on doorkeoping ?" "JNo, sir." "Have you read any text-books on the subject?" "No." "Have you conversed with anyone who has read such a book?" "No. sir: I'm afraid 1 not. sjr." "Well, then, my friend, don't you see that you haven't a single qualification for this important post?" said Lincoln, in a reproachful tone. "Yes. I do," said the applicant, and he took leave humbly, almost gratefully^
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Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 91
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173Glad to Escape. Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 91
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